U.S. condemns terrorist attacks in Quetta, Parachina

Most casualties took place in Parachinar where two bombs went off with short interval in the crowded Tori Market when people were busy in Eid shopping.

The second explosion, heard miles away, came just minutes after people and rescue workers had rushed to evacuate the dead and wounded in the relatively smaller first blast.

Shahid Khan, a local official in Parachinar, said Saturday that numerous victims of the attacks are in critical condition. An assistant sub-inspector was among those killed in the attack, said Superintendent of Police Asif Ahmad.

Wasim Beg, a spokesman at a government hospital, said the death toll from the bombing had risen to 12 throughout the morning and some of the wounded remained in critical condition.

Three others were killed in Parachinar hours later when security officers opened fire to disperse demonstrators who gathered to condemn the attacks and demand authorities provide better security.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attacks, saying that those responsible will be taken to task.

Separately in the evening, three militants riding on two motorbikes killed four policemen in a restaurant in Karachi.

A faction of Pakistan-based sectarian militants Lashkar-e-Jhangvi today claimed responsibility for twin bombs that hit a market in the northwestern town of Parachinar, killing at least 50 people ahead of the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

The army has also been fighting in mineral-rich Balochistan province, since 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed. The army sent two helicopters from Peshawar to take part in the rescue efforts.

The newspaper added that while no group has yet claimed responsibility for the Parachinar blasts, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar - a splinter group of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Isis has reportedly claimed responsibility for the Quetta attack.

The first blast was used as a decoy to lure more people to the site for the second attack. The security forces cordoned off the entire area and started the search operation.

Pakistan is in the middle of a widening military operation to oust militants from key areas. TV footage showed panicked people rushing to safety following the Parachinar market bombings.

The funeral prayers of the seven policemen were later offered at Police Lines.